Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal Finalises Third Annual Work Program

Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal Finalises Third Annual Work Program

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Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal Finalises Third Annual Work Program

The Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal is an independent, national tribunal whose functions affect  the road transport industry. According to the official RSRT website, some of the agency’s functions include:

  • making road safety remuneration orders

  • approving and assisting with negotiations for road transport collective agreements

  • dealing with certain disputes relating to road transport drivers, their employers or hirers, and participants in the supply chain

  • conducting research into pay, conditions and related matters that could affect safety in the road transport industry.

Source: http://www.rsrt.gov.au/

Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal’s (RSRT) third annual work program will this year focus its attention on a number of sectors of the trucking industry. The program incorporates investigations into a number of sectors of the trucking sector.

According to reports, the tribunal has just finalised its third annual work program which maps the areas that they RSRT will focus on in 2015.

Jennifer Acton, president of the RSRT explained the businesses that are on the tribunal’s agenda include supermarket chains, long distance transport operations, the oil, fuel and gas sectors, waste management transport and the wharf and ports sectors.

In an article on Fullyloaded.com.au Acton was quoted explaining that the final work program will mirror the draft document released by the agency in December 2014. A request for an investigation into driver pay and allowances has however been rejected. She went on to explain:

“We are not persuaded we should separately identify the issues of allowances, superannuation, non-compliance and enforcement in the third AWP [annual work program],” Acton says.

“Such issues can be raised as part of the inquiry into the sectors we have otherwise identified, while recognising issues of non-compliance and enforcement are primarily the role of others, such as the Fair Work Ombudsman.”

Source: http://www.fullyloaded.com.au

Acton went on to explain that the agency had collated enough evidence to justify investigations into the sectors listed in the 2015 work program.

At the moment the RSRT is looking into the cash-in-transit sector and has received an interim report on it. It also believes that a final report will be received early this year.

Parties affected by the investigations do not need to be taken off guard as the timetables for the inquiries will be publicised according to Acton. The latest efforts of the RSRT have been welcomed by The Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Victorian Transport Association (VTA).

The RSRT will have the power to act to improve road safety by mandating terms and conditions following its investigations if necessary. The aim of the agency is ultimately to improve road safety.

The post on Fullyloaded.com.au concluded by stating:

Acton says the timetables for inquiries into individual sectors this year will be publicised to give interested parties the opportunity to make submissions, give evidence and take part in site inspections.

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) support an investigation into waterfront practices. The union has also pushed hard for the cash-in-transit inquiry and for action against companies involved in oil, fuel and gas transport.

Source: http://www.fullyloaded.com.au